US2148736A - Mascara container and applicator - Google Patents

Description

mama in. 2a, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I ransom coma iizfiznn srrhrcaroa I Frank L. Engel, Jr., Chicago, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments mo, Ill.

, to William a1 Boyd, oni- Application May 6, 1937, Serial No. 141,186

10 Clam. (Cl. 132-79) The present invention relates to a mascara container and applicator, and has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved container and applicator that are compact in construction, easy to carry and so arranged that the mascara may be readily and conveniently used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container that is pleasing in appearance, easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which, be-

, cause of its inexpensiveness, may be discarded after the mascara has been consumed.

A more specific object of the present invention I is to provide a cylindrical container adapted to contain a tubular cake of mascara, and comprising a removably mounted closure member carrying an applicator brush that extends into the central opening of the tubular cake when the closure member is positioned to close the container, the closure member constituting a handle whereby the brush may be manipulated for obtaining the deposit of a suitable amount of mascara thereon, and for applying the mascara directly to the eyelashes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mascara container having a venting means so constructed and arranged that any liquid remaining in the container after an application of mascara is evaporated by contact with air, but leakage of the liquid'from within the container is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mascara applicator brush that is suitably not only for applying the mascara to the eyelashes, but also for combing the latter, and so constructed as to give the user a greater control over the amount of mascara applied.

Further objectsand advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a container embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the combined closure member and applicator withdrawn from the container.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an-end view of the device shown in Fig. 1, and

' Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of construction.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the container of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral II). This con tainer comprises a cylindrical shell 12, closed at one end by a bottom It, formed integrally therewith, and at its opposite end by a removable 'closure member, or cap, it. The cap I6 is made with an internal diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of shell l2, so that it fits snugly around the latter and is not likely to be separated therefrom. The movement of the cap toward the bottom of the shell is limited by an outwardly extending bead l8, located a slight distance from the open end of the shell.

Within the container is mounted a tubular cake 20, 01 mascara made in accordance with well known principles from either a soap or an oil base, in which suitable coloring material is incorporated. Castile soap, which is a soap base, or carnauba wax and stearic acid, which are oil bases, may be used.

Mascara made from these bases may be molded to form tubular cakes having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the shell l2. The cakes, when dry, are relatively hard and may, therefore, be inserted bodily within the shell to which they are secured by a slight amount of suitable bonding material, such as glue. However, the cakes may be held in place by friction time if so desired From Fig. 3 it may be noted that the cake is made with a length such that it extends from the bottom I4 of the shell to approximately the bead l8,

The mascara is applied to the eyelashes by a cylindrical brush 22, mounted at the lower end of a. wire support 24, secured to the inner side of the cap l6 by mechanical means, or by solder 26. The support 24 consists of a pair of twisted wires between which the bristles from which brush 22 is made are secured. The wire is preferably made of metal, such as Monel, that is not affected chemically by moisture and mascara.

The brush is made of relatively soft bristles arranged in spiral form with the adjacent convolutions thereof closely spaced. Ithas been found that a brush constructed in this manner is eminently suitable for the application of mascara to the eyelashes because it acts as a comb,

half that of the tubular cake 20, into the central opening of which it extends. The length of the 2 support 24 is designed so that the brush extends substantially to the bottom of the container when the cap 16 is, in place. When the cap I6 is removed from its closing position the entire surface of the brush 22 may be contacted with the mascara within the container.

In the application of mascara made in cake form from soap or oil bases, it is necessary to wet the cake before the mascara adheres to the brush. Consequently when the brush is wetted for application and then inserted within the container after use, there is a possibility that some of the liquid may be entrained in the bristles. If no provision were made for the evaporation of this liquid it would then dissolve the mascara, particularly because of the close spacing between the mascara and brush.

The container is, therefore, provided with venting means comprising a small diameter opening 28, located centrally of the bottom 14. The leakage of liquid through this opening is prevented by making the central portion 30 of the bottom convex in shape. According to this construction the opening 28 is raised a short distance above the plane of the bottom l4, and provides an arrangement whereby, when liquid collects in the bottom, the capillary action of the liquid prevents it from flowing through the opening. From the above description it is apparent that liquid entrained in the bristles, or otherwise collecting in the container, can not escape from the latter to soil purses, or the like, inwhich the container is usually carried. i

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 5, the entire cake of mascara is adapted to be contacted by the brush 22 when the cap is removed from its container closing position. This modification thus provides a construction in which the entire cake'of mascara may be consumed before the container is discarded.

The container illustrated in Fig. is identical in construction with the one previously described with the exception 'of the fact that the shell I2 is provided with an inwardly extending bead 34 displaced a distance from the bottom l4 approximately equal to the distance between the bead l8 and the open end of the shell.

The tubular cake 36 of mascara is somewhatshorter than the previously described cake 20, and its lower end rests against the bead 34. It, like cake 2!], may be secured either by glue or friction to the side wall of shell l2.

In the application of the mascara to the eyelashes, the cap I6 is first removed by grasping it in the fingers. The cap thus provides a co venient handle for the brush 22 whereby the latter may be first moistened by dipping it in a liquid, preferably water, and then contacted with the inside of the. tubular cake of mascara. To obtain an even coating of mascara on the brush, the cap may be rotated between the fingers.

Thereafter the mascara may be applied directly to the eyelashes, either by a rotary or reciprocating movement of the brush. Because of its cylindrical shape the brush is adapted to carry a considerable amount of mascara so that it does not need to be brushed against the mascara cake as often as would otherwise be necessary. The brush also acts as a comb to separate the eyelashes because" of the spiral arrangement of the bristles thereon.

enter the container through the vent 28. The liquid collecting in the container can not escape therefrom because of the arrangement of the vent on the convex portion 30 of the bottom, and

the container is, therefore, practically soil-proof.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment and a modification thereof, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to such details except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a hollow cake of relatively hard mascara, a container for said cake, said cake being secured inside said container, a closure member for said container, and a brush configured to fit into the hollow of said cake secured to said member, said brush being of such length and so secured to said member that it extends into the hollow of said cake when said member is positioned to close said container, and that it can be manipulated to contact the surface of the cake of mascara when the closure member is moved to container opening position, whereby mascara may be transferred to the brush, and that it can be manipulated directly to transfer the mascara therefrom to the eyelashes.

2. In combination, a relatively long tubular cake of relatively hard mascara of the type that requires wetting prior to application to eyelashes,

a cylindrical container for said cake, said container having an open end and an internal diameter such that the cake may be inserted into and secured within the container, a-closure member for said open end of the container adapted readily to be grasped by one hand of the user of the mascara, and a brush secured to said closure member by supporting structure-said brush being made in substantially cylindrical shape of bristles arranged spirally, and said brush and supporting structure having lengths and diameters such that when the closure'member is positioned to close the container the brush extends into the central opening of the cake of mascara, and when the closure member is moved out of container closing position the brush may be wetted, then reinserted part way into the container into contact with the surface of the cake of mascara for the transfer of the mascara to the brush, and thereafter manipulated to transfer the mascara directly to the eyelashes.

3. In combination, a hollow cake of mascara made of mrterials that must be moistened for application, a container for said cake, a closure member for said container, a brush secured to said closure member and adapted to extend into the hollow of said cake when said member is positioned to close said container for applying the mascara directly to the lashes, and means providing a passage for air into said container for evaporating any liquid remaining in the container after an application of mascara .and for preventing leakage of. liquid outside the container.

4. In combination, a tubular cake of mascara made of materials that must be moistened for application, a cylindrical container, a removable closure member for one end of said container, a brush secured to said closure member for applying the mascara directly to the eyelashes, said brush being made in a substantially cylindrical shape of bristles arranged in spiral fashion and having a diameter and length such that when the closure member is positioned to close the container it extends to the opposite end of the container through the opening in the tubular cake, and an integral closure for the other end of said container provided with an apertured convex central portion whereby air may circulate within the container to evaporate any liquid remaining therein after an application of the mascara and the liquid is prevented from escaping from within the container.

5. In combination, a cylindrical container, a tubular cake oi mascara secured within the container intermediate the ends thereof, a cap fitting around the container and removably mounted at one end thereof for closing said container, and a brush secured to said cap and adapted to, extend through the opening in said tubular cake when the cap is positioned to close the container, said cake being spaced from the end of the container opposite said cap a distance substantially equal to the distance the cap and container are in engagement when the cap is positioned to close the container.

6. In combination, a cylindrical container, a tubular cake of mascara secured within the'container intermediate the ends thereof, a cap fitting around the container and removably mounted at one end thereof for closing said container, a brush secured to said cap and adapted to extend through the opening in said tubular cake when the cap is positioned to close the container, said cake being spaced from the end of the container opposite said cap a distance substantially equal to the distance the cap and container are in engagement when the cap is'positioned to close the container, and said container being provided with a vent.

'1. In combination, a container open at one end, a hollow cake of mascara secured within the container, means removably mounted upon the open end of said container, a brush secured to said means and adapted to extend into the opening in said hollow cake when said means is mounted upon the open end of the container,

said cake being spaced from the closed end of the may be contacted by said brush when removed said means and adapted to extend into the hol-' low of said cake when said means is mounted upon the open end of the container, said cake being spaced a relatively short distance from the open end of the container and a distance from the opposite end such that the entire cake may be contacted by said brush when removed from its mounted position.

9. In combination, a container open at one end, a hollow cake of mascara secured within the container, means removably mounted upon the open end of said container, a brush secured to said means and adapted to extend into the hollow of said cake when said means is mounted upon the open end of the container, said cake being spaced a relatively short distance from the open end of the container and a distance from the opposite end such that the entire cake may be contacted by said brush when removed from its mounted position, and said opposite end being "provided with a vent.

10. In combination, a container open at one end, a cake of mascara secured therein, said cake being dimensioned and shaped to define a longitudinal passage within said container, means removably mounted on the open end of said container, and a brush configured to fit into said passage secured to said means, said brush being of such length and so secured to said means that it extends into said passage when the means is positioned to close said container, and that it can be manipulated to contact the surface of the cake of mascara when said means is moved into container opening position, whereby mascara may be transferred to the brush, and that it can be manipulated directly to transfer the mascara therefrom to the eyelashes.

FRANK L. ENGEL, Ja.

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